Characteristics of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (Xinjiang Strain) in China
Virus strains isolated from blood of patients during a hemorrhagic fever outbreak in 1968 in southern Xinjiang, China, from Hyalomma asiaticum and from sheep, were found to be identical or closely related to Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (C-CHF) virus by complement fixation and indirect immunofluorescence tests with convalescent sera of patients and with C-CHF reference antibody. The virus was inactivated by ether and acid. Viral synthesis was not suppressed by 5-iododeoxyuridine suggesting an RNA-containing genome. The buoyant density in sucrose was 1.16–1.18 g/cm3. The particle weight was estimated at 3.26 ± 0.46 × 108. The diameter of the virus particles was 85–105 nm.
Author Notes
Dr. Lee is a Research Fellow from the Shanghai Institute of Biological Products, Shanghai, China.